Panel assembly unit



Oct 29.1940. c. F. SPERM 2.219.714

PANEL ASSEMBLY UNIT Filed Jan. 12, 193B INVENTOR.

- ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct.- 29, 19.40

PANEL ASSEMBLY UNIT Charles F. Sperry, Norfolk, Va., 'assignor to ThePhilip Carey 'Mamii'actnring Company, a corporation of Ohio ApplicationJanuary 12, 1938, Serial No. 184,649

9 Claims. (01. 2o-15)' This invention relates to a device for assembling-boards or panels in position and particularly pertains to a unitassembly for fastening ceiling, panel, or partition boards in positionin a i building or similar structure.

of any design.

Generally described, the invention'comprises a l unit assembly composedof a base member that may be attached to a foundation, studding, or anyframe work to which panels are to be applied. The base member isprovided with a socket to receive a spring clip attached to a finishingstrip, whereby the strip may be readily applied and removed Withoutusing nails, screw, or other means of attachment. The base member mayalso be provided with a seating portion, preferably resil-.

ient, on which the panels may be seated and supported. The base memberand finishing strip, with suitable cooperating means for automaticallylocking together are indispensible elements of the assembly. Othermeans, if desired, may

be employed to more securely hold the panels in 3 place.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made tothe accompanying drawing, in Which- Fig. 1 is an elevational view of asection of a partition wall embodying the invention and showingdifferent steps of assembling the unit;

Fig. 2 is a cross -sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is across-sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; I

Fig.- 5 is a perspective view of a holding clip; and.

forsecuring the finishing panel. 1

Referring specifically to the drawing in which like numerals are used todesignate like parts, numeral l designates panels or wall boards emiployed for finishing the walls or ceilings of a building betweenconventional spaced apart wooden stud or joist members 2 of a buildingstructure. These members could be metal or other suitable materialaswell as wood if desired. They merely typify the frame work of anypartitiom or wall to be paneled. A- base member 3 may be attached toeach of v the spaced apart studs or to those which'are to support theends of the panels, and the panels usually are of standard width tobridge and span The unit comprises parts which may be readily connectedand disconnected, and are adapted for use with panels Fig. 6 is aperspective view of the spring clip the space between two adjacentjoists. Member, 3 may be conveniently attached by bolt means 4 projectedtherethrough and through the stud with a clamp nut 5 screwthreaded onthe end of the bolt to draw the head of the bolt against mem- 5 her 3.This, too, is merely representative of any suitable fastening means asit is immaterial how the member 3 is attached to the joist. "The basemember is formed of relatively light metal having its opposite sideedges folded back-at 6 to extend substantially parallel with the portion1 for a distance and then bent in to form spaced apart terminals 8 toprovidea socl cet. 9 therebetween, converging into a constricted neckportion. Thus the portions 6 provide yieldable or resilient sup-[porting ledges for seating the side margins of the panel and with theterminals 8 spaced to abut the edges of the panels.

After these base members aresecured in' position upon the stud members,the panels are P111720 in place with the margins of one face side seated1 upon the ledges of the base member, then means can be applied forholding the panels in position. This means may be in the form of aholding clip lll attached to the studdingby means 35 of a nail or screwll. Any number of thesemay. be employed.

This holding strip may be of any desirable form but is preferably formedwith an embossed .portion l2 seating between the terminal portions 8 onthe base member. On the other side of the embossment is a' recess l3'inwhich thescrew head may be received. The ends [4 extend from thisembossed portion to project over the outer margin of the adjacent edgesof two adjacent panels, thereby holding the panels securely inplace-upon the base member. v

The panels having been secured in place, a

' finishing strip l5 of any desired shape may be used to cover the jointbetween adjacent panels. 0 Means are preferably provided on thefinishing strip to permit ready assembly and disassembly. The finishingstrip may have one side plain and. the other; side provided with flangesIE to abut against the faces of the panels. At a midportion on theunderside of the finishing strip, spring clips I! may be attached by anysuitable means I8 such as a rivet. This 'clip means is of light metalmaterial with the sides l9 bent at an angle to'a base portion 20 toconform substantially with the inclinationof portions 8 on the basemember, so that it may be sprung into the socket therebetween. Anynumber of these clips may be provided at spaced intervals on thefinishing strip or the clip may be The holding clips H] are preferablyused in order to more permanently secure the panels in place, but if thefinishing strips are alone desirable for holding the panels in place theholding strips may be dispensed with. Whether they or some other form ofattachment be used, they are covered and concealed by the finishingstrip which provides complete coverage for the joints.

While one embodiment has been described in detail for showing how theinvention may be carried out, there may be various changes in details ofconstruction without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A panel fastening unit adapted to be mounted on a foundation membercomprising a base member having ledge portions for seating the edges ofa panel and means for spacing apart adjacent panels and providingyieldable walls of a socket, a clip to hold the edges of the panel onthe ledge portions of the base member, a finishing strip covering thespace between the panels, and a clip attached to the finishing stripadapted to snap into the socket of the base member.

2. A panel fastening unit adapted to be mounted on a foundation membercomprising a base member having flexible ledge portions for seating theedges of a panel and means for spacing apart adjacent panels andproviding yieldable walls of a socket, a clip to hold the edges of thepanel on the ledge portions of the base member,

a finishing strip covering the space between the panels, and a finishingstrip provided with a spring clip adapted to snap into the socket of thebase member.

3. A panel fastening unit adapted to be mounted on a foundation membercomprising a. base member of flexible metal having retroverted resilientledge portions for seating the edges of a panel and terminal portionsspaced apart toledge portions for seating the edges of a panel 1 andyieldable terminal portions disposed at an angle to the ledge portionsto provide a socket,

a clip to hold the edges of the panel on the ledge portions of the basemember, a finishing strip, and a clip attached to the finishing stripadapted to snap into the socket of the base member.

5. A panel fastening unit adapted to be mounted on a foundationcomprising a base member having yieldable ledge portions terminating inspaced apart angularly disposed terminals to .provide a resilient socketand to separate the edges of adjacently laid panels, spaced apart clipmeans spanning the socket and overlapping the edges of adjacent panelsfor holding same in -position, and a finishing strip havinga meansadapted to snap into the socket.

6. A panel fastening unit adapted to be mounted on a foundationcomprising a base member having resilient ledge portions terminating inspaced apart angularly disposed terminals to provide a socket andseparate the edges of adjacently laid panels, spaced apart clip meansspanning the socket and overlapping the edges of adjacent panels forholding same in position, and a finishing strip having a resilient meansadapted to be sprung into the socket.

7. A panel fastening unit adapted to be mounted on a foundationcomprising a base member having yieldable ledge portions terminating inspaced angularly disposed terminals to provide a resilient socket and toseparate the edges of adjacently laid panels, a holding clip adapted tobridge the spaced apart portions of the base member and be secured tothe foundation for holding the adjacent edges of the panels against theedge portions, and a finishing strip having a means adapted to snap intothe socket.

8. A panel fastening unit adapted to be mounted on a foundationcomprising a base member having resilient ledge portions terminating inspaced apart angularly disposed terminals to provide a socket andseparate, the edges of adjacently laid panels, a holding clip adapted tobridge the spaced apart portions of the base member and be secured tothe foundation for holding the adjacent edges of the panels against theledge portions, and a finishing strip having a resilient means adaptedto be sprung into the socket.

9. A wall construction comprising a base member disposed between spacedapart wall panels and provided with retroverted ledge portions spacedfrom the base member toresiliently support the wall panels, a fasteningdevice'provided in the base member between the ledge portions forsecuring the base member in place, a-holding clip for securing the wallpanels upon the ledges of the base member, and a finishing stripattached to the base member for covering the holding clip.

CHARLES F. SPERRY.

